Mayor Elaine Scruggs is the recipient of the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award for regional planning in Maricopa County.

Scruggs received the award from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) during its recently held 2012 Desert Peaks Awards ceremony in recognition for her 22 years of service exemplifying regional cooperation.

“It has been my joy and honor to serve on the MAG Regional Council and various MAG committees as we collaborated to create a Valleywide freeway system, plan for the expansion of airports and airport amenities, develop air quality measures and address human services needs,” said Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs. “Working with elected officials from every city in Maricopa County and the county itself has been one of the best parts of my public service. Supporting our efforts to address current and long-range concerns that affect all Valley cities have been the talented and dedicated MAG staff members under the leadership of Executive Director Dennis Smith. I am overwhelmed by this award and want to thank all I have worked alongside during these remarkable 22 years of progress and regional partnership.”

Since becoming mayor in 1993, Scruggs has held leadership positions on numerous regional organizations and committees. She has been a member of the MAG Regional Council since 1993 and served as chair of MAG from 1997-1998. Mayor Elaine Scruggs is a charter member and current member of the MAG Transportation Policy Committee, which she chaired from 2004-2006.

She also served on the MAG Executive Committee, Transportation Subcommittee and Regional Aviation System Plan Policy Committee. In addition, she is a current member of the MAG Economic Development Committee.

In his remarks while presenting the award to Scruggs, MAG Chair and Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman said she was “instrumental in accelerating the regional freeway system completion by seven years” and that she “continues to work closely with citizens and is noted for being visible, accessible and approachable.”

Earlier this year, Scruggs was honored as one of Arizona’s 48 most intriguing women throughout the state’s 100-year history as part the Arizona Centennial Legacy Project.

The University of Arizona (UA) hosted its ninth annual Innovation Day on March 6. The event, attended by over 300 people, celebrated the UA’s success in technology development and innovation by highlighting the research achievements of students, staff, and faculty.

Innovation Day opened with UA at the Leading Edge, which showcased the cutting edge research of leading UA faculty members. The session was chaired by Dr. Len Jessup, Dean of the Eller College of Management.

This year’s Leading Edge researchers included:

Eric A. Betterton, Ph.D. focuses on atmospheric and environmental chemistry exploring an atmospheric model to forecast wind-blown dust from natural and man-made sources. This research supports the development of dust forecasting technology for health and traffic advisories.

Leslie Gunatilaka, Ph.D. explores novel compounds synthesized by exotic plants from the arid zones of Asia, S. America and the Sonoran desert, and evaluates these compounds for medicinal value.

Larry Head, Ph.D. specializes in systems and industrial engineering. His research on priority based traffic signals is working to save the lives of fire and rescue first responders.

Sharon Megdal, Ph.D. concentrates on state and regional water resource management and policy. Her work on environmental water needs, aquifer recharge and assessment, and planning to meet future water needs of growing, semi-arid regions contributes to improved development and understanding of state water management strategies.

James T. Schwiegerling, Ph.D. is developing a design for an accommodating intraocular lens, which behaves just like the flexible human lens in the eye, which can be used as a replacement in cataract surgery.

The celebration of University of Arizona innovation continued with the Technology Innovation Awards Luncheon, which honored an outstanding faculty member and student for their achievements in translating original ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.

This year’s faculty Technology Innovation Award recipient is Ronald S. Weinstein, M.D. Dr. Weinstein has pursed a wide variety of projects in his medical career. He has pioneered original research in cancer diagnostics and the human-computer interface, championed the translation of his inventions into commercial products, and founded companies in the technology-based sector to market their products. Dr. Weinstein is an internationally acclaimed academic physician who invented, patented, and commercialized “telepathology” a transformational healthcare delivery system that leverages the power of broadband telecommunications. He is the founding director of the award-winning Arizona Telemedicine Program (ATP).

Alexandra Armstrong, a final-year PhD candidate in Veterinary Sciences and Microbiology, received the student Technology Innovation Award. Alexandra Armstrong is a leading force in the area of preventing bacterial food borne diseases. Ms. Armstrong’s doctoral project resulted in a novel, reproducible, effective vaccine to reduce Campylobacter jejuni. The commercial potential of this vaccine is enormous.

The UA also recognized the extraordinary accomplishment of Michael Drake (1946-2011), a leader in the cosmochemistry scientific community. He was the guiding force in the Phoenix Mars Mission and the recently announced OSIRIS-Rex mission.

A special video titled “Thinking the Impossible” premiered during the luncheon and highlighted how the University of Arizona has been a global leader in scientific and technological innovation for over a hundred years.

Following the luncheon, the Innovation Showcase provided an opportunity for participants to interact with UA departments, start-up companies from the Arizona Center for Innovation, as well as get an early glimpse at the business plans of students from the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.

The Innovation Showcase Awards recognized student teams who developed business plans from the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the Eller College of Management. The companies were judged on various aspects of their business presentation. The People’s Choice Award was presented to the business venture that received the most Innovation Bucks from showcase attendees. Mindful Monkee, received the People’s Choice award and $200 cash prize. Top student ventures overall were selected by a panel of judges comprised of angel investors and entrepreneurs. Two student teams won booth appeal. First place winner for booth appeal, OnwardPacks, received $250 cash prize and second place winner, Advanced Armor Applications, won $150 cash prize. Two student teams won communication and fluency awards. First place winner, MistoBox, received $250 cash prize and second place winner, Testab, won $150 cash prize.

Innovation Day at the UA was organized by the Office of University Research Parks and the Arizona Center for Innovation in partnership with the UA’s Senior Vice President for Research, UA External Relations, Office of Technology Transfer, and the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.

Arizona Centennial Events: Arizona turns 100, if you’re looking for a way to celebrate check out the following events.

Centennial Marriage Event

In honor of the Valentine State, get married on Arizona’s 100th statehood day – Tuesday,February 14, 2012! To celebrate Arizona’s Statehood Centennial, the Arizona Supreme Court and Arizona’s Clerks of Superior Court are co-hosting a marriage event on the grounds of the Arizona Courts Building, across the street from Wesley Bolin Plaza. Arizona State Courts Building, 1501 W. Washington

100 Years of Arizona: Collectibles, Cowboys & Curiosities

Join Grand Canyon Planning Associations on Friday, Feb. 17 between 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for their grand opening celebration. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the owners, explore the location, enjoy an all day barbeque and see the employer’s collection of Arizona memorabilia filling the halls of their offices. Arizona’s Official State Historian Marshall Trimble will be speaking and in attendance between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00p.m. along with International award-winning trick roper Loop Rawlins performing at 11:00a.m. The celebration will be held at 9035 E. Mountain View Rd., Scottsdale.

100 Years of Arizona at Work

Visit the Alliance Bank Centennial Photographic Exhibit featuring historical photographs depicting 100 years of Arizona’s economic growth. The collection includes small business owners, workers and people entrepreneurs in the industries and infrastructure that has helped shape Arizona into what it is today. Join them in the main floor of their CityScape headquarters located at One East Washington Street, Phoenix open Monday to Friday through February.

14th Annual Square Dance Festival – Happy 100th Birthday Arizona

Dance the weekend away at St Joan of Arc Catholic Church for their 14th Annual Square Dance Festival on Feb. 17 and 18. A special appearance will be made by Rex Allen Jr. who will be singing “I love you Arizona” as part of a mini concert on Saturday night. Tickets are $45 for dancers and $15 for spectators. It’s located at 3801 E. Greenway Road, Phoenix.

Ironic Arizona

Don’t miss Ironic Arizona celebrating the Arizona Centennial with photographs from the Center for Creative Photography. Take a visual tour of the state’s famous places and iconic symbols, from the Grand Canyon to the Hoover Dam, and from the majestic saguaro to San Xavier del Bac. November 12, 2011 – March 4, 2012 at the Phoenix Art Museum1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix.

In celebration of the Arizona Centennial, a 50-photo exhibit will be on display presented by Alliance Bank in downtown Phoenix at CityScape.

Running from now through the end of March 2012, the exhibit entitled “At Work in Arizona” will mark the 100th year since admitted to the Union when it achieved its statehood as the “Grand Canyon State” on February 14, 1912. The photographic exhibit will display the growth in technology through the years as Arizona become one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.

From the rugged mining days of the young state, to the modern urban city spaces we now know and love, the two-level lobby exhibit will, through the eyes of the camera lens, depict the people, landscapes and spirit of America’s 48th state and its past 100 years with photographs and descriptions.

The pictures within the gallery are part of Alliance Bank’s permanent collection, created by Arizona based photographer and historian Marilyn Szabo.

“We are very proud to be a part of the Arizona Centennial with the presentation of our historic photographic exhibit celebrating the first 100 years of Arizona’s economic achievements,” stated Jim Lundy, chief executive officer on Alliance Bank.

“As Arizona’s largest locally-owned bank, we are especially pleased to be able to provide an opportunity for the public to see the diversity of Arizona’s commerce and the entrepreneurial spirit of those who work today to promote Arizona’s growth and quality of life for generations to come,” he added.

The exhibit will be open to the public Monday through Friday through March 31st, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Alliance Bank’s headquarters at CitsyScape in downtown Phoenix.

It seems to be the topic of many conversations these days. But what is civil discourse, and how can we achieve it? More importantly, why has the call become increasingly louder for a concerted effort to find a different way of electing our leaders, solving our problems and interfacing with each other?

What is Civil Discourse

Civil discourse is our ability to have conversation on topics about which we disagree and to listen to each other’s perspectives. Civil discourse requires respect of the other participants and an appreciation for others’ experiences.

To advance society and improve the quality of life in Arizona, we must be prepared to discuss important, yet potentially contentious issues, such as growth, transportation, healthcare and education. Our democracy is dependent upon responsible residents that can, and will, wrestle with these tough issues, without partisanship, while maintaining respect for the need to hear, understand and take into account different viewpoints.

Join the Discussion

An interactive panel of local experts will be discussing civil discourse, what it is and why it’s important at Valley Forward’s luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel.

Panelists include Paul Johnson, former Mayor of the city of Phoenix and manager of Southwest Next Capital Management; Chuck Coughlin, president of HighGround Public Affairs; and Steve Rizley, senior vice president and general manager of Cox Communications. Tarah Jackson, president of Arizona Town Hall will serve as moderator.

These speakers will be engaging attendees in a conversation on civil discourse, the shifting of politics in Arizona, consensus building and regional thinking. It’s especially important in this presidential election year, which also marks Arizona’s centennial celebration and the 50th anniversary of Arizona Town Hall. Come hear for yourself why listening to others’ opinions is so integral in our society.

The Centennial Issue

In this special Centennial issue, AZRE looks ahead to the next 100 years within the commercial real estate industry. Also, AZRE features 30 companies that could have an impact on the industry in 2012. You’ll also find out which project are new to the market over the next few months, how public projects are providing work for general contractors, and find out which two Valley specialty schools are going through renovations. Also read more about Chase Field’s new health club and movie theater, and lastly, the best and brightest industry leaders have been chosen — find out who they are.

The Centennial Issue

In this special Arizona Centennial issue of AZ Business Magazine, we not not only take a look back on the Arizona’s rich history, but also look ahead at another 100 promising years, asking experts in various fields, “What’s in store for Arizona’s next century?” Flip through, and you’ll also find out who the 27 Arizona Corporate Counsel Awards finalists and winners are, GPEC’s supplement looking into the future of the Valley economy for 2012, the future of technology in Arizona, the 50 largest employers in the state and more.

100 Years of Change: From ‘Sesame Street’ to scientific breakthroughs, Arizona’s history impacts the way we live our lives

During Arizona’s first century, every elementary school student in the state learned about the five Cs that drove Arizona’s economy — copper, cotton, cattle, citrus and climate.

There is a chance that if you ask Arizona elementary school students what C words drive the state’s economy now, their best answers might be casinos or Cardinals, whose University of Phoenix Stadium has been filled with fans, and hosted both a Super Bowl and a BCS championship game since it opened in 2006.

A lot has changed since copper and cotton drove the state, but that doesn’t lessen the impact Arizona’s first 100 years had on the way we live our lives today.

Here are a baker’s dozen events, people or projects from Arizona’s history, its first 100 years, that shaped the state or helped the state make history:

Gaming

In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in response to the proliferation of gambling halls on Indian reservations. IGRA recognized gaming as a way to promote tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal government.

By the end of 1994, 10 casinos were in operation in Arizona. Currently, 15 tribes operate 22 casinos in the state, creating a huge boost for Arizona tourism and the economy.

To put it into perspective, a study commissioned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community in 2011 showed that Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort alone accounts for 1,094 jobs, $36,713,700 in payroll, and a total economic impact on the community of $205,322,355. And those numbers represent figures before the resort added a 152-room hotel tower in July 2011.

Air travel

In 1935, the City of Phoenix bought Sky Harbor International Airport for $100,000. In 2010, the airport served 38.55 million passengers, making it the ninth busiest in the U.S. in terms of passengers and one of the top 15 busiest airports in the world, with a $90 million daily economic impact. The airport handles about 1,252 aircraft daily that arrive and depart, along with 103,630 passengers daily, and more than 675 tons of cargo handled.

“As much as anywhere in the U.S., Phoenix is a creature of good air connections,” says Grady Gammage Jr., an expert on Arizona’s history. “There is no good rail service (in Arizona). There are no real transportation corridors. Sky Harbor has had a huge impact.”

Road travel

Another transportation milestone occurred in 1985 when the Maricopa Association of Governments approved a $6.5 billion regional freeway plan for Phoenix and voters approved a 20-year, one-half cent sales tax to fund it. By 2008, the Arizona Department of Transportation had completed the construction and Phoenix boasted 137 miles of loop freeways that link the metro area.

“The loop freeways resulted in a distribution of job centers around the Valley,” Smith says. “That allows every part of the Valley to achieve its dream and have employment closer to where the homes are. That distributes the wealth throughout the Valley.”

Smith says the freeways also extended the Valley’s reach to Yavapai, Pinal and Pima counties, creating a megapolitan area known as the Sun Corridor.

Master-planned neighborhoods

Arizona is home to countless master-planned residential communities, but the first one — Maryvale — opened in 1955 in West Phoenix as the post-war years exerted their influence. Its developer, John F. Long, wanted to plan and build a community where young people could buy an affordable home, raise a family and work, all in the same area. He named the development after his wife, Mary, and its influence is felt to this day.

“Because Maryvale was a master-planned community and because John did affordable housing, the master plan included a lot of parks, school sites and shopping areas,” says Jim Miller, director of real estate for John F. Long Properties. “It really was where people could live and work. If you lived in Maryvale, you weren’t more than three-quarters of a mile from a park or school. That forced a lot of other builders to adopt the same type of philosophy.”

The first homes sold for as little as $7,400, with a $52-a-month mortgage. The first week the models went on the market, 24,000 people stopped by to take a look.

Retirement communities

A year before Maryvale opened, Ben Schleifer introduced a different lifestyle to an older demographic. In 1954, Schleifer opened Youngtown in West Phoenix, the first age-restricted retirement community in the nation, according to research by Melanie Sturgeon, director of the state’s History and Archives Division. No one younger than 50 could live there. By 1963, Youngtown had 1,700 residents and Arizona was on its way to becoming a retirement mecca.

But it was builder Del E. Webb and his construction companies that firmly established the concept of active, age-restricted adult retirement in Arizona with the opening of Sun City on Jan. 1, 1960, next to Youngtown and along Grand Avenue. According to Sturgeon’s research and a magazine observing Sun City’s 50th anniversary, about 100,000 people showed up the first three days to see the golf course, recreation center, swimming pool, shopping center and five model homes. Traffic was backed up for miles. The first homes sold for between $8,500 and $11,750. Sun City had 7,500 residents by 1964 and 42,000 by 1977, the same year Webb decided the community was big enough and he began construction on Sun City West.

Law

Ernesto Arturo Miranda was a Phoenix laborer whose conviction on kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery charges based on his confession under police interrogation resulted in the landmark 1966 U.S. Supreme Court case (Miranda v. Arizona), which ruled that criminal suspects must be informed of their right against self-incrimination and their right to consult with an attorney prior to questioning by police. This warning is known as a Miranda warning.

After the Supreme Court decision set aside Miranda’s initial conviction, the state of Arizona retried him. At the second trial, with his confession excluded from evidence, he was again convicted, and he spent 11 years in prison.

Healthcare

The first successful surgery and use of an artificial heart as a bridge to a human heart transplant was conducted at the University Medical Center in Tucson by Dr. Jack Copeland in 1985. His patient lived nine days using the Jarvik 7 Total Artificial Heart before he received a donor heart.

It also put the spotlight on Arizona as a place where cutting-edge research and healthcare was taking place.

Copeland made several other contributions to the artificial heart program, including advancing surgical techniques, patient care protocols and anticoagulation. He also performed the state’s first heart-lung transplant and the first U.S. implant of a pediatric ventricular assist device. In 2010, Copeland moved to a facility in San Diego, where he continues to make an impact on health care.

Entertainment

Joan Ganz Cooney, who received her B.A. degree in education from the University of Arizona in 1951, was part of a team who captured the hearts and imaginations of children around the world with the development of Sesame Workshop, creators of the popular “Sesame Street.” Now in its 42nd season, the children’s television show uses puppets, cartoons and live actors to teach literacy, math fundamentals and behavior skills. Today, Cooney serves as a member of Sesame Workshop’s executive committee. In 2007, she was honored by Sesame Workshop with the creation of The Joan Ganz Cooney Center, which aims to advance children’s literacy skills and foster innovation in children’s learning through digital media.

Military bases

Williams Air Force Base in Mesa, which broke ground for its Advanced Flying School on July 16, 1941, allowed more than 26,500 men and women to earn their wings. It was active as a training base for both the U.S. Army Air Forces, as well as the U.S. Air Force from 1941 until its closure in 1993.

It also opened the door for other military training bases in Arizona, including Luke Air Force Base; which employs more than 8,000 personnel and covers 4,200 acres and is home to the largest fighter wing in the world, the 56th Fighter Wing; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, home to the A-10 Thunderbolt II, which was used in combat for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991, destroying more than 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery pieces; and Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, which specializes in air-to-ground aviation training for U.S. and NATO forces. In 1990, almost every Marine that participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm trained at Yuma.

Solar power

Solar power has the potential to make Arizona “the Persian Gulf of solar energy,” former Gov. Janet Napolitano once said. But despite the overabundance of sunshine, the industry didn’t take root in the state until the end of the last century.

The first commercial solar power plant in the state came in 1997 when Arizona Public Service (APS) built a 95-kilowatt, single-axis tracking photovoltaic plant in Flagstaff. In 1999, the City of Scottsdale covered an 8,500-square-feet parking lot with photovoltaic panels, to both provide shaded parking and generate 93 kilowatts of solar power.

Arizona installed more than 55 megawatts of solar power in 2010, doubling its 2009 total of 21 megawatts, ranking it behind California (259 megawatts), New Jersey (137 megawatts), Florida (110 megawatts), and Nevada (61 megawatts).

Water

Construction of the Central Arizona Project — which delivers water to areas where 80 percent of Arizonans reside — began in 1973 at Lake Havasu. Twenty years and $4 billion later, it was completed south of Tucson. The CAP delivers an average 1.5 million acre-feet of water annually to municipal, agricultural and Native American users in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties.

“Without the CAP, we wouldn’t have the population we have today,” says Pam Pickard, president of the CAP board of directors. “We wouldn’t have our economic base. We wouldn’t have the industry we have.”

But the CAP wouldn’t have been possible without another milestone that occurred nearly 60 years earlier — Hoover Dam and its reservoir, Lake Mead, 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Hoover Dam, constructed between 1933 and 1936, tamed the Colorado, which Marshall Trimble, Arizona’s official state historian, says was even more erratic than the Salt River. The dam created reliable water supplies for Arizona’s Colorado River Valley and, eventually, Central and Southern Arizona via the CAP.

Sports

On April 24, 2000 Arizona Gov. Jane Dee Hull signed a bill that created the Arizona Tourism and Sports Authority (initially known as the TSA). Later, it was renamed to the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority.

The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority was instrumental in the constructions of University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals and an anchor of Glendale’s sports complex. The development of the stadium, also home to the Fiesta Bowl, marked a shift in the economic landscape of the West Valley and Arizona sports. The Stadium has already hosted one Super Bowl and will host a second in 2015.

The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority has also been instrumental in Cactus League projects — including Surprise Stadium, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Tempe Diablo Stadium, Scottsdale Stadium, Goodyear (Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds) and in Glendale (Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.) The economic impact of Cactus League baseball is estimated at $350 million a year.

“There’s no doubt about it, sports is an integral part of any destination tourism package,” says Lorraine Pino, tourism manager at the Glendale Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our tourism literally exploded over the past few years.”

Over the course of the past 100 years, inhabitants of Arizona have left their marks on the surface of the Arizona landscape for better, worse or just plain weird. Here are some Arizona attractions worth visiting at least once:

The Mystery Castle on South Mountain

This Phoenix Point of Pride was built on the base of South Mountain between 1930 and 1945 by Boyce Luther Gulley. When the Mystery Castle architect and builder died from cancer and tuberculosis after leaving his wife and his daughter Mary Lou Gulley without a word in 1930, he willed the Arizona Mystery Castle to them, where they both lived until their passing in 1970 and 2010, respectively.

The castle has 18 rooms built with reclaimed materials from a local dump that used to be in the area.

Mystery Castle is open from early October to end of May on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get there before 3:30 p.m. if you want to take the last tour. Call for more information: 602-268-1581.

Location: 800 East Mineral Road, Phoenix

The Camelback Copenhaver Castle

The Camelback Castle is a more recent addition to the Phoenix landscape perched high on the neck of Camelback Mountain. This architectural wonder of 7,800 sq. ft. was built by orthodontist Dr. Mort Copenhaver. Copenhaver purchased the property in 1967 and started blasting rock out of the mountainside to build this Moorish-style castle complete with a draw bridge, a dungeon and even secret passageways.

The previous owners Copenhaver and Jerry Mitchell (known as the creator of Rawhide) both filed for bankruptcy and now the current owners of the castle, Old Standard Life Insurance Co., have tried selling and auctioning the property with no success. Maybe it’s cursed?

The Camelback Castle is not currently open to the public, but you can always drive by and check out the outside.

Location: 5050 E. Red Rock Road, Phoenix

Louis Lee’s Rock Garden in Paradise Valley

Lee’s rock garden is an incredible, detailed construction of whimsy created by one man, Louis Lee. Lee died in 2006, but his 50 years of work in the front yard of his Paradise Valley home lives on. The home is private property, but just drive by and you can see the narrow walkways, gravel arches and the hundreds of tiny, smiling Buddha’s embedded into the landscape.

Location: 4015 E. McDonald Drive, Phoenix

The World’s Largest Kokopelli

This 32-foot-tall, Native American symbol of fertility, towers over a small strip mall that includes a tourist information office and the newest addition, a Starbucks. It was originally built for the Krazy Kokopelli Trading Post, but more people must have stopped to take pictures with the metal deity than shop at the trading post, as the store is no longer there.

Location: The I-17 and Camp Verde Exit 287

The 25-Foot Tall Hobo Joe in Buckeye

Arizona’s biggest bum hangs out in Buckeye, in front of West Valley Processing. Hobo Joe was an icon for the Hobo Joe coffee shops that were scattered around Arizona before the company closed up in the late 1980s, but there never was a Hobo Joe restaurant in Buckeye. So how did Hobo Joe come to rest there? The restaurant became partners with a bank and pulled out a loan for $3 million. Then, one of the owners of Hobo Joe’s embezzled money from the restaurant (instead of paying back the loan), to build a swanky Phoenix home and a posh condo in Mesa for mafia members that were being investigated by murdered Arizona Republic reporter, Don Bolles.

With the chains closing up, this Hobo Joe was never paid to artist Marvin Ransdell. Ransdell hit hard times, so his friends the Gillum’s, owners of West Valley Processing, stored his things until Ransdell could get back on his feet, this included Hobo Joe. When Ransdell passed away, Ramon Gillum assembled Hobo Joe with a plaque in Ransdell’s memory.

Arizona has grown in the past 100 years from a territory formerly part of the wild, wild West to a state with a rich history of legal cases affecting either local residents or residents along with the rest of the nation. Based on my own views as an attorney, educator and author, as well as consultation with a few people who know the legal history of the state a lot better than I do, I’ve compiled two such lists. Each is in chronological order and each case name is followed by the court that decided it, the date of the decision, and a sentence explaining the importance of the case.

The first contains three Arizona legal cases of national importance that arose in Arizona and that had a national impact, but that had no special impact on Arizona different from the impact on the rest of the country.

A. Cases of National Importance:

1. Miranda v. Arizona. U.S. Supreme Court (1966).

Requires police to give “Miranda warnings” prior to questioning a suspect in custody, in order to be able to use a confession obtained through the interrogation at trial.

2. In re Gault. U.S. Sup. Ct. (1967).

Requires that juveniles be given due process protections in juvenile delinquency proceedings.

3. Bates v. State Bar of Arizona. U.S. Sup. Ct. (1977).

Holds that lawyer advertising is protected by the First Amendment.

B. Cases of Arizona Importance:

1. State v. Tucson Gas, Elec. Light & Power Co. Az Sup Ct. (1914).

Holds that the Arizona Corporation Commission, rather than the state Legislature, has the exclusive power to regulate utility rates.

2. Orme v. Salt River Valley Water Users’ Ass’n. Az Sup. Ct. (1923).

Holds that the Legislature, if it can get a two-thirds vote in each House, can prevent voters from subjecting new legislation to a voter referendum by declaring an emergency, whether an emergency actually exists.

3. Williams v. Lee. U.S. Sup. Ct. (1959).

Holds that state courts have no jurisdiction over civil cases that arise on Indian Reservations, even if the dispute is between an Indian and a non-Indian.

4. Arizona v. California. U.S. Sup. Ct. (1963).

Establishes the extent of Arizona’s right to water from the Colorado River.

5. Kenyon v. Hammer. Az Sup. Ct. (1984).

Holds that the right to recover damages for personal injury is a fundamental right in Arizona that cannot be abrogated by the Legislature.

6. Mecham v. Gordon. Az Sup Ct. (1988).

Because of Gov. Evan Mecham’s impeachment conviction, cancelled a recall election that had been scheduled on the basis of voter recall petitions, thus permitting Secretary of State Rose Mofford to serve out the remainder of Mecham’s term.

Requires substantial equalization of state funding for public school districts in Arizona.

[stextbox id=”grey”]Paul Bender teaches courses on U.S. and Arizona constitutional law. He has written extensively about constitutional law, intellectual property and Indian law, and is coauthor of the two-volume casebook/treatise, Political and Civil Rights in the United States. Professor Bender has argued more than 20 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and actively participates in constitutional litigation in federal and state courts.[/stextbox]

10 Top Arizona Landmarks And Sights

Despite the typical images of a colorless and dry land that the word “desert” brings up in our minds, Arizona has a lot more to offer than varying shades of brown. Arizona landscapes and sights are unique and often breathtaking. They show the long, rich history of Arizona before buildings and people. Here are the 10 top Arizona landmarks and sights that are most eye-catching and jaw-dropping.

10.

Meteor Crater

It is the world’s best preserved meteor crater, located near Winslow. It is nearly a mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and over 550 feet deep. The crater was formed approximately 50,000 years ago when a piece of an asteroid traveling at 26,000 miles per hour collided with the Earth.

9.

Grand Canyon

Tourists come from around the world to see the magnificent sights of the Grand Canyon. It is one of the natural wonders of the world and proves that with its great size and history. The Grand Canyon spans 277 river miles and is up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep.

8.

Canyon de Chelly

It is the longest continuously inhabited landscape in North America and provides unique sights to anyone who visits. Besides the visual appeal, this area holds a lot of spiritual and cultural significance. There is architecture, artifacts and rock imagery from the past peoples that will amaze anyone.

7.

Oak Creek Canyon

Located near Flagstaff, Oak Creek Canyon offers spectacular scenes with its colorful rocks and unique formations. It is smaller than the Grand Canyon with a length of 88 miles but is no less breathtaking.

6.

Cathedral Rocks

Cathedral Rocks is located in Sedona, an area known for its unique and often awe-worthy sights. The best view of this sight is along the Red Rock Crossing, where visitors and residents like to hike and enjoy the outdoors. Sedona, and particularly the areas where hiking is most popular, is also known for what people refer to as vortexes that give off a soothing and healing energy.

5.

Monument Valley

Monument Valley borders northern Arizona and southern Utah in the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Park. Its large sandstone buttes are the main attraction of this sight, and they are one of the most photographed landscapes in the world.

4.

The Wave

This amazing sight is located near the Arizona-Utah border in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. A permit from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required to visit the Wave, but it is well worth it to see this unique Navajo Sandstone in person.

3.

Papago Park’s Hole-in-the-Rock

This unique sight is closer to home for many Phoenix area residents and far more accessible. Climbing up into one of the series of holes in this hill of red, arkosic conglomerate sandstone gives you a wonderful view of the park and surrounding area.

2.

Corkscrew Canyon

This incredible sight is hidden away, just outside of Page, AZ. The only way to get to it is to take one of the tour shuttles that leaves from Page, but once you’re there you know the trip was worth it. You’re surrounded by winding sandstone as soon as you enter, and when the sunlight shines through just right, this sight is very breathtaking.

1.

Bell Rock Pathway

Along the Bell Rock Pathway — a hiking trail in Sedona — is an amazing view of the landscape which includes Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. At the right time of the year, you can see just how green Arizona can get and the remarkable contrast of the red soil, as shown above.

A doctor in New York City writes an article for the Youngstown Vindicator about how climate may affect health. Those diagnosed with illnesses such as tuberculosis, began migrating to Arizona in the 1900’s and it has since been known as the ideal climate for many illnesses and conditions.

Historic Buildings – Arizona has a history that ranges from historic wonders, such as the Grand Canyon, to remarkable buildings. Each year the Arizona Preservation Foundation releases their Arizona Most Endangered Historic Places List which informs the public and increases awareness.

The following includes 10 historic buildings still standing, significant from Arizona’s past:

Located on Fossil Creek Road, Strawberry Schoolhouse was built in 1884 in Strawberry Valley, Ariz. Families that lived in the Yavapai County wanted a school and petitioned for one to be built. After the petition, District #33 was established, as was the school.

A change in the county boundary in 1889 moved the school from Yavapai county to Gila County making it District #11, were it stayed until 1916 when it closed. The school furniture was removed and the building became a temporary residence for newcomers to the Valley.

By 1961, the remains of the structure included just a log frame.

Fred Eldean, an official in the Page Land and Cattle Company, purchased the building and donated it to Payson-Pine Chamber of Commerce.

In 1967, local residents restored the old structure and now it belongs to the Arizona Historical Society. On August 15, 1981, the building was dedicated as a historical monument.

The Pyle House was built around 1938 for J. Howard Pyle, governor of Arizona from 1950 to 1954, and his wife, Lucile Hanna Pyle. They lived in the home for 27 years.

This building is one of the larger ranch houses in the neighborhood. Special features include steel casement windows and a low-pitch roof. The landscape obscures much of the front view of the home.

On November 29, 1987, Governor Pyle died at the age of 81.

After his death the house, located just minutes away from the Arizona State University Tempe campus, was abandoned and those living around it for years wanted it to be bulldozed and build a new structure.

The house was going to be torn down, but property owner Ronald A. Davidoff, through his representative Emilio LoCascio of Gemini Development Corporation, put in a petition to keep the house and refurbish it.

Today, it is deemed as a Tempe historic property.

8.

Empire Ranch – Built in 1860

Empire Ranch is a 22-room adobe, built in 1860, located southeast of Tucson and 10 miles north of Sonoita. The ranch sits at the heart of the 42,000-acre Las Cienegas National Consercation Area, public land acquired in 1988 by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The building was owned by Edward Nye Fish, a Tucson businessman, then acquired by Walter L. Vail, a native of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, and Herbert Hislop, an Englishman, in 1876.

The family received many historic expansions by Vail and his family until 1928, when the ranch was purchased by Boice Gates and Johnson partnership, cattlemen known for their promotion of the Hereford breed of cattle in the Southwest. In 1951, Frank Boice and his family became the sole owners of the property. They hosted Hollywood production company parties and allowed for the filming of western movies on their land.

In 1969, the land was sold to the Gulf American Corporation for real estate development then resold to Anamax Mining Company for mining and water potential.

In 1988, a series of land exchanges put the property in public ownership under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management and considered it a historic building and land space.

In 2000, the U.S. Congress officially designated these 42,000 acres to be the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.

Nicholas Saloon was built in 1889 for John Nicholas, a French rancher, farmer and saloonkeeper, who came to the town in 1880. This building has been registered as a national historic place. He moved into this building in 1889 and used it as a beer hall and saloon.

This is one of the few buildings in the historic district that includes a basement, steam-powered fan and wood floor.

Originally, there were three entrances, two on 11th Street and one on Bailey Street. The building has been used variously as a residential dwelling and rental and currently as an office.

Designed by prominent Arizona Architect James M. Creighton, this is the oldest standing fired-brick building in Florence.

The current owners of the building are Paul and Diane Marchand and John and Laura Bolognino.

The Florence Woman’s Club was constructed of adobe in Spanish Colonial Revival Style by architects Lescher and Mahoney, who had prison inmates doing the work.

T.F. Weedin, who wanted to improve and beautify the town of Florence, established the club in 1897. Members paid 25 cents to her each month to come to the meetings held under her porch. They were one of five original groups to form an alliance for a cause.

In 1914, the club bought the land where the building stands. They raised $9,420 through fund-raisers to build the club, and the building was completed in 1929, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

During World War II, the building was rented to USO for $75 per month. Soldiers were able to enjoy a reading center, phonograph records and Saturday night dances.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was built 1882, under direction of Endicott Peabody. Located in Tombstone, Arizona this is first Episcopal Church in Arizona.

The building is hand formed by adobe brick that was stuccoed in 1970 to protect the adobe. The ceilings and roof were made of timber that was hauled in by ox carts from the Chiricahua Mountains.

According to the website, “the stained glass windows, the pews, altar rail are all the originals unchanged over the years. The light fixtures, although now electrified, are the originals that came off a chipper ship anchored in San Francisco. The piano dates from 1891, and the altar cross was donated in 1905.”

The building was made a historic landmark, although it has never closed, and continues to serve people today.

The Niels Petersen House, a Queen Anne style brick building, was built in 1892. Owned by Niels Petersen, a Danish immigrant, prominent local farmer and entrepreneur, and his wife Susanna, this is the oldest Queen Anne building in the Valley.

James Creighton, a well-known Arizona architect, built the home.

When Peterson died in 1923, he was buried in the Double Butte Cemetery, a site he had donated to Tempe. He was later reburied on the Petersen House property. When Susanna died in 1927, her nephew, Rev. Edwin Decker, inherited the house and property. He made modifications to the house in 1930 and lived there until his death in 1948.

In 1968, the house was turned over to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, who cared for it until it was donated to the City of Tempe in 1979. The Niel’s Petersen House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

The building has a steep multi-gabled roof, decorative shingles, balconies, dormers and chimneys. The asymmetrical structure has a one-story kitchen wing on the west and a bungalow-style porch on the south and east, which replaced a wood Victorian porch in 1930.

The interior has 13 rooms, with a foyer, study, parlor, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, enclosed breezeway and kitchen downstairs; and three bedrooms, a bathroom and sitting room upstairs. Original features included three stained glass windows, brass door hardware, doors, windows, moldings, balustrade posts and some wallpaper.

Mystery Castle, built in 1930 by Boyce Luther Gulley, is located in South Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona landmark that has moldings donated by famous people, such as John Wayne, is still lived in by the builder’s daughter, Mary Lou.

The story is Gulley lived in Seattle with his wife and daughter and was diagnosed of Tuberculosis. When he found out he refused to allow his wife and daughter see him suffer and decided to leave, taking off to Phoenix, AZ in the night. He decided he would build a castle for his “little princess” so she could have a place to inherit from him.

After 15 years of building the castle was done. He used adobe, mortar calcium, and even goats milk to build the home. After he passed away from cancer his wife and daughter came to Arizona to live in the home.

Today, Mary Lou gives tours of the castle, when she is up to it. The 8000 square foot home is has 13 fireplaces, eighteen distinct rooms, and a myriad of interesting features. A wide variety of southwest antiques also round out the interesting decorative style of the castle.

Mary Lou, Gulley’s daughter, did not see her dream home until 1945; the construction and her father’s whereabouts had remained a secret up until that point, hence the name Mystery Castle.

The Rosson House was built in 1895 and is the last remaining residential house of the block. The 28,00-square-foot Eastlake architectural style Victorian home has 10 rooms and five fireplaces.

The house was built for Dr. and Mrs. Roland Lee Rosson at a cost of $7,525 and stands in its original location. The home was one of the most famous homes in Phoenix. Purchased by the city in 1974, it has been authentically restored.

Clinton Cambell, an employee of A.E. England Motors, Inc. /Electrical Equipment Co, built the A E English Building in 1926. Located in Phoenix’s Civic Space, the Spanish Renaissance Revival style building features three large storefront windows, decorative molding and six original bow-string trusses.

In 2006, the Historic Preservation Bond Committee, Phoenix residents who voted for the 2006 Bond Program, local preservation advocates, the City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office and Commission, Mayor Gordon and City Council voted against the building being demolished.

The building was an automotive dealership in the midst of “auto row,” located on Central and Van Buren, where Cadillac, Ford, Studebaker and DeSoto dealerships were until the end of the 1960s.

Now the building is used to have classes, orientations, meets and art shows for Arizona State University. The building was listed on the Phoenix Historic Property Register in 2006 and rehabilitated by the City of Phoenix in 2008-2009 as part of the downtown Phoenix Civic Space.

The saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same” aptly describes the relationship the city of Mesa and the Chicago Cubs share.

Major League Baseball first came to Mesa for spring training in 1952. Back then, the Cubs made Rendezvous Park their home until it was razed in 1976 and replaced with a new stadium at Hohokam Park. In the almost 60 years since the Cubs starting playing in Mesa, the city has evolved dramatically. But one thing hasn’t changed — Downtown Mesa remains a buzz of activity on days when the Cubs play, and the streets around the stadium are lined with carloads of die-hard fans.

Just how popular are the Cubs in Mesa? In 2009, they set an MLB spring training attendance record of 203,105. Average per game attendance was 10,690, leading all of baseball.

Big changes are on the horizon, however. In 2016, the light rail is expected to make its way to Downtown Mesa. And by the end of 2011, Mesa and the Cubs hope to break ground on a new spring training facility and retail area known as Wrigleyville West at Riverview Park at Dobson Road and the Loop 202.

Besides the light rail and the Cubs’ new home, Mesa continues to expand its residential and business base.

Incorporated in 1883, Mesa has a population of almost 470,000, making it the third-largest city in Arizona and the 38th-largest city in the United States.

10 Top Discoveries in Arizona

There are many mysteries about Arizona. Before it was officially established as the 48th state in 1912, and far before colonization, there was life here. Archaeologists and investigators have been discovering ancient life and civilizations across the state, telling stories about the land before it became what it is today — as well as helping us learn about our potential future. Here are 10 of the top discoveries made that have changed Arizona as well as the world that we know.

10.

Ruins of 10 Villages Found — 1924

Byron Cummings, a professor of anthropology at University of Arizona, and his students discovered villages over 1,000 years old near Tucson. Read More >>

9.

700-Year-Old Relic Found — June 22, 1965

21-year-old Lynda Bird Johnson, President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s daughter, helped uncover remains in eastern Arizona during a two-week vacation study at the University of Arizona archaeological camp on the Fort Apache reservation. Read More >>

8.

20,000-Year-Old Butcher Shop — 1931

The discovery of large elephant-like mammoth bones in Yuma County, hacked with flint knives, indicates that America has been inhabited for at least 20,000 years. Dr. Harold J. Cook of the Cook museum of natural history explains this and the significance to the finding. Read More >>

7.

Hohokam Village of Pueblo Grande — 1920s

The site which can be viewed by the public at the Pueblo Grand Museum, includes an 800-year-old platform mound — where ancient buildings were constructed — and excavated prehistoric ballcourt. The central part of what is now the museum was first preserved in 1924. Read More >>

6.

Rich Uranium Ore Found — April 7, 1950

Three new high-grade uranium minerals — which were used in building atomic bombs — were reported by the Geological Survey. The minerals were discovered by Dr. Charles A. Anderson in the Hillside Mine in Yavapai County. Read More >>

5.

Columbian Mammoth Found — 2005

Now known as Tuskers, the remains of a Columbian Mammoth were discovered in a construction site when one of the workers found the first cervical membrane of the mammoth. The area located in Gilbert is now known as Discovery Park as a result. Read More >>

4.

Dinosaur Tracks Found — 1929

It was reported to be one of the most important discoveries of dinosaur tracks, with a group of 300. They were found near Tuba City and the largest print was found to be nine inches long. Visitors are now invited to walk where these ancient reptiles did. Read More >>

3.

Winona Meteorite — 1928

This meteorite was found near the ruins of the prehistoric Elden pueblo. It was in a stone cist on the ancient burial ground, suggesting that the people of the area treated it like a living being and buried it after witnessing it fall. Read More >>

2.

Oldest Dinosaur Found — 1985

A 200-pound, plant-eating creature’s remains were discovered in the Petrified Forest by paleontologist Robert Long. The almost-intact skeleton was 225 million years old, four million years older than any previous dinosaur fossil discovered at the time. Read More >>

1.

Las Capas Canals — 1998-2009

Irrigation canals built as early as 1200 B.C. were discovered in the Tucson area. They are the oldest known canals north of central Mexico. This site has revealed much about ancient irrigation and agriculture. Read More >>

Arizona became the 48th state in the Union, officially gaining its statehood February 14, 1912. Since that time dramatic events have captured the news medias attention more than others. Over the past 100 years, Arizonans have become impacted by events that have not only shocked locals but also people across the nation; the following includes the stories we felt attracted the most media attention.

10.

Clyde Tombaugh Discovers Pluto (1930)

On March 13, 1930, Lowell Observatory located in Flagstaff, Ariz. announced the discovery of the planet that would eventually be named Pluto. Clyde Tombaugh discovered the planet on February 18, 1930. This brought major media attention to the research facility, putting Arizona on the map for a great, defining moment.

9.

New Phoenix Coyotes Arena (2003)

In 2003, the Phoenix Coyotes had a place to call home. In 2002, when development started there was a lot of controversy over the location and how prosperous the sight would be. Names for the arena were selling at rocket high prices, with University of Phoenix Stadium winning, spending $154 million for 20 years. The sports district has allowed new growth to the Valley, attracting news of the team, economic development, what the stadium is bringing to the location and how much the name cost. The location of the stadium has continued to promote success in the Glendale area.

8.

Flying Saucer Sighted In Tucson (1950)

On February 1, 1950, a fiery object shot quickly west through the Tucson skies. A B-29 took off in pursuit of the object, but the plane could not catch up to the object. This is one of the most bizarre cases in Tucson history, documented by the Tucson Daily Citizen (before the paper became the Tucson Citizen). This made citizens question the Air Force base while the news media worked to find and report answers. Eventually, it was said the Air Force was etching vapor trails. This story graced the cover of news media around Arizona for months.

7.

Cardinals Go To The Superbowl (2009)

It took 61 years and in 2009 the Arizona Cardinals went to the Superbowl. Arizona residents were wearing t-shirts to support the team and news media gobbled up every technique they could to write about the team finally making it. Arizona was not only in the news with this story, the state was put on the map. Although the Cardinals didn’t win the Superbowl, the fact that they got there created quite a historic moment.

6.

Sweat Lodge Deaths (2009)

On October 9, 2009, James Arthur Ray, self-help guru, gave a seminar in Sedona, Ariz. in a sweat lodge where two people died and 12 were sent to the hospital. Every 15 minutes, a volcanic rock the size of a cantaloupe was brought into the self-made tent to cure spiritual and financial problems. Ray has appeared on Oprah and Larry King Live causing the media to go on an information hunt and asked questions about his true healing power sprawling the tragedy nationwide. News media has been covering the story for two years. As of now, James Arthur Ray has not been convicted of any crime.

5.

Hanging Invitations (1900)

A misunderstanding on a hot-button issue put Arizona in the national spotlight more than a century ago. The statute required sheriffs to issue invitations to all sheriffs in the territory whenever an execution was scheduled. George Smiley was scheduled to be hung December 8, 1899; however, amused by the requirement, Sheriff F.J. Wattron of Holbrook sent out gilt-edged cards assuring invitees that the proceedings would be “cheerful” and the execution “a success.” The story went viral when the Associated Press got hold of a card. President William McKinley requested a 30 stay and new invitations be sent out by the sheriff. Wattron re-sent invitations and George Smiley was hung on January 8, 1900.

4.

Arizona Becomes A State (1912)

We had to include Arizona becoming a state as a big news topic. On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state of the United States. This didn’t come without a price. In 1598, Spain claimed the land as part of New Spain. In 1821, Mexico became independent from Spain and claimed the land. By the late 1820’s, the Spanish had deserted most of their outposts in the area, and Americans began to pour in looking for land and opportunities. In 1848, the United States was at War with Mexico. Arizona became part of the territory of New Mexico in 1853. The westernmost battle in the Civil War was fought in Arizona. On December 29, 1863 Arizona was established as a separate territory and part of the United States. Two famous Indian Chiefs Cochise and Geronimo were natives of Arizona and carried on guerrilla warfare within the territory against the encroaching white settlers until Geronimo surrendered in 1886, ending the Apache Wars. The first attempt at statehood in 1891 was rejected by Congress. Congress twice tried to admit Arizona and New Mexico as one state, but that idea was rejected. Finally in 1912, Arizona entered the union. It was not easy, but the “Grand Canyon State” was a worthy addition to the United States.

3.

Tuscon Shooting (2011)

Jared Loughner, the man accused of the Tucson massacre that left six dead and injured 13 others, including Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Congresswoman, shocked the news media and put everyone across the world in a panic. At this point no one knows the meaning behind the shooting, and Jared Loughner has not been convicted of any crime. News stations across the nation have followed this story for the latest developments and continue to do so. Journalist from around the country have come to Arizona to see what leads could be discovered. President Obama flew into Tucson to give a speech and condolences. Although a recent event, this news story has made a tremendous impact on news involving Arizona.

2.

FBI Memo (2001)

The FBI was informed of a July 2001 memo sent from the bureau’s Arizona office warning headquarters that Arabs were training at U.S. flight schools. The flight schools were located in Arizona. Phoenix-based agent Kenneth Williams wrote a memo to his superiors in Washington two months before the attacks, suggesting that terrorists might be learning to fly commercial jetliners at U.S. flight schools, according to local papers. Once the September 11, 2001 attacks happened, the media generated a special interest in Arizona and flight schools. The controversy was so prominent the story circulated in the news for years after the attacks.

1.

SB1070 (2010)

SB1070 was approved by the Senate on April 13, 2010 with a 35 to 21 vote. This bill has been the harshest measure of the United States fighting illegal immigration. Republican Governor Jan Brewer signed the bill April 16, 2010 putting it into effect. Under the new measure, it will be a misdemeanor offense in Arizona to be without proper immigration paperwork. Additionally, police are now allowed to distinguish an individual’s immigration status if they develop a “reasonable suspicion” that a person is an illegal immigrant. Other states, such as California, didn’t agree with the bill, arguing it is racial profiling. Arizona was banned by other states, and the news media has been following this story for the past year. This is the No. 1 news story because it questions constitutional rights and every state recognizes its dramatic impact. The effects of the bill are uncertain.

10 Top Intriguing News Pieces In Arizona’s Medical World

Arizona has had a long, rich history since its established statehood in 1912. People travel here for the sun, the weather, for a change of scenery and for their health. Health, especially, has made Arizona a unique place to live. Here are our top news pieces that made Arizona that much more intriguing or helped put this state in the limelight.

10.

December 9, 1921 – Climate and Your Health

A doctor in New York City writes an article for the Youngstown Vindicator about how climate may affect health. Those diagnosed with illnesses such as tuberculosis began migrating to Arizona in the 1900’s, and it has since been known as the ideal climate for many illnesses and conditions.

9.

December 21, 2010 – St. Joseph’s Hospital Stripped of Catholic Status

After a case at the hospital involving the termination of a pregnancy Catholic bishop Olmsted declared the procedure an abortion, which is barred by Catholic teaching. St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center was then told that they would no longer be able to call themselves a Catholic hospital. The hospital says that this will not hinder their patient care.

8.

April, 2009, Phoenix – Swine Flu

The first Arizona swine flu case was confirmed in Phoenix, Ariz. An 8-year-old boy attending Moon Mountain Elementary School in northwest Phoenix was the first person confirmed in the state to have contracted the virus.

7.

November 28, 1993, Scottsdale – Arizona Golfer’s Cancer Struggle

The professional golfer Heather Farr passed away in a Scottsdale hospital after a four-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. She was 28 and an inspiration to many in her professional life and personal struggles.

6.

October 31, 1939, Phoenix – “The Trunk Murderess” Escapes from Asylum

Winnie Ruth Judd, also known as “The Trunk Murderess” after being found guilty for the murders of two young women who’s bodies were hacked up and stuffed into shipping trunks, was placed once again in the Arizona State Hospital for the insane after six days of freedom. Judd and the victims were all employed at the Grunow Medical Clinic before the incident.

5.

June, 2003, Flagstaff – Rare Disease

A woman named Ginger Harvey undergoes surgery for what is expected to be a hernia, only for the doctors to discover a, while not cancerous, harmful growth on her left kidney. Later it is discovered to be a rare condition called Dercum’s Disease after a man with very similar symptoms is seen on television.

4.

October, 2002 – Amoeba Water Scare

Phoenix gets a water scare after two healthy 5-year-olds die within hours of each other of an undetermined type of meningitis. Amoeba was discovered to be the culprit, which causes symptoms of meningitis once it travels up the nose and into the brain and spinal column via water.

3.

June, 1993, Window Rock, AZ – Mysterious Illness

11 people on or near Navajo lands, the majority of them under the age of 40, die of a mysterious illness. The land extends into New Mexico and Utah from Arizona, but far from cities and main roads, making the situation isolated even while baffling investigators.

2.

May 2, 1967, Winslow – Two-Pound Baby

A 3 year old by the name of Dianne Proctor, living with her adoptive parents in Winslow had a strange genetic condition that stunted her growth significantly. At birth she weighed slightly more than two pounds and after three years she weighed as much as an average two-month-old child.

1.

September, 1985, Tucson – Three Hearts for One Man

Michael Drummond had a total of three hearts within 10 days. The 25-year-old Arizonan goes from receiving a mechanical heart on August 29th to finally a real heart after complications from the mechanical one caused strokes.

A doctor in New York City writes an article for the Youngstown Vindicator about how climate may affect health. Those diagnosed with illnesses such as tuberculosis, began migrating to Arizona in the 1900’s and it has since been known as the ideal climate for many illnesses and conditions.

Copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and climate. These “Five C’s” were the core of Arizona’s economy when it first became a state. Though not as important today, they assist in bringing residents and tourists alike to Arizona. If you went to elementary school here you may have heard of these in the classroom. If not, here is a quick breakdown:

First established in 1926, Route 66 is an American legend. Though it was, for all intents and purposes, “decommissioned” in 1985, the road still lives on in the various states it passed through. In Arizona it exists today as State Route 66. Take a look at the infographic below for more information about the historic road.

10 Top Political Events in Arizona’s History

Officially gaining its statehood February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th state in the Union. With a history of the Wild West, Cowboys and Indians, and gorgeous sunsets, the Grand Canyon State has a long and impactful history. In the political realm, Arizona has seen several major political events, policies and leaders in its 100 years of statehood, and these are the events we felt were the most influential.

10.

1963: Arizona vs. California

It was in 1963 when the United States Supreme Court decision Arizona vs. California delegated water rights amongst local Indian reservations in the Grand Canyon Lower Basin. It was a landmark case and a topic of concern that had been a controversial subject matter in Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah government. Ultimately, it went on to help resolve an ongoing debate for control of the Colorado river.

9.

1948: Native Americans officially granted the right to vote

A lawsuit was filed by a Native American who fought in World War II and ultimately led to voting equality in Arizona. In 1948, Frank Harrison and Harry Austin (Mohave-Apaches) at Fort McDowell Indian Reservation were denied voter registration and took the case to court, citing that their constitutional rights as American citizens had be violated. Native Americans had previously been exempt from proper voter registration, as they were deemed “wards of the government” – not independent citizens. They ultimately won and in effect overturned a 20-year-old court case (Porter v. Hall).

8.

1992: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

There had been much controversy surrounding New Hampshire and Arizona in the early ’90s as the only two states whom had not yet officially recognized the MLK Day. Ultimately, the National Football League relocated its Super Bowl XXVII plans from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California in 1993 in the wake of media controversy. Eventually, the law was passed despite much controversy, and Arizona finally established Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a nationally recognized holiday for Arizonans.

Republican Governor Evan Mecham of Arizona was impeached in January of 1988 on charges of money laundering, perjury and failing to report $350,000 to a real estate developer (according to an October 1987 Arizona Republic story). After a string of controversial campaign decisions, however, he was acquitted on all six felony charges in June. Although he attempted to stay in the political and journalism sphere, he was never able to fully reenter.

6.

1919: President Woodrow Wilson signed the Grand Canyon National Park Act

In 1919 Woodrow Wilson signed the Grand Canyon National Park Act, making Arizona’s Grand Canyon one of the nation’s oldest and most popular physical landmarks. Over 1,900 square miles, the National Park is also considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world and attracts tourists of all walks of life to hike, climb, explore and vacation. A trademark of Arizona geography, the Grand Canyon Act has helped to preserve this natural wonder and allow its over five million annual visitors to experience a wonder of the world.

5.

1964 Election: Barry Goldwater of Arizona runs for president

Republican Barry Goldwater of Arizona became the first Arizonan to run for President of the Untied States in 1964, after his party’s nomination. Known as “Mr. Conservative,” he was a harsh conservative when it came to fiscal responsibility and is credited with the Libertarian Party movement of the 1970’s. Later in his political career, he was critical of his own Republican party of the 1980’s and it’s sudden explosion of religious influence. Although he later lost the election of 1964 to Lyndon B. Johnson, he would continue to have lasting influence in traditional Republican politics for decades to come, until his death in May of 1998.

4.

January 16, 1917: The Zimmerman Telegram

Just prior to America’s involvement in WWI, The Zimmerman Telegram was a secretive message sent from Germany to Mexico, stating that Mexico would regain Arizona as a territory if they aided Germany in the war. It was intercepted by British Intelligence, translated and sent to United States for analysis. It was eventually release to the public in March, angering the American people. It dramatically influenced our foreign policy towards the Axis countries, catapulting the United States into WWI

3.

September 30, 1935: The Hoover Dam was dedicated

The Hoover Dam began construction in 1931 during the Great Depression and was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. This 726.4-foot-tall dam spans the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona, and supplies large amounts of electricity to Nevada, California and Arizona. According to the Department of the Interior, the Dam has a rated capacity of 2,998,000 horsepower, 17 turbines and 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours produced annually. It provides 15.4 percent of Los Angeles’ power and 18.9 percent of Arizona’s power every year. A necessity for Arizonans way of life, the Hoover Dam was a marvel of man that continues to bring energy to millions every year.

2.

April 23, 2010/July 29, 2010: Arizona Senate Bill 1070

In April of 2010, Arizona Senate Bill 1070 was signed and went into effect under Republican Governor Jan Brewer later that year. A highly controversial bill, SB 1070 is the most stringent anti-immigration law in recent decades and allowed police officers to make arrests for “looking like” an illegal alien. Controversy surrounded its legality and accused the supporters of it of utilizing racial overtones in order to target Mexican immigrants as riots and marches throughout the Phoenix area captivated the nation. Hundreds of thousands of self-proclaimed illegal immigrants gathered in the Grand Canyon State in opposition to the bill in 2010, intensifying the immigration debate on all levels.

1.

September 25, 1981: Sandra Day O’Connor is the first female member of the U.S. Supreme Court

On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman member of the U.S. Supreme Court and represented Arizona until her resignation on January 31, 2006. Born in El Paso, TX, she would go on to receive a B.A. in economics from Stanford University but was met with strong opposition due to her sex in multiple law firms after graduation. However, she would later become Attorney General of Arizona (1965 – 1969) and appointed to the Arizona State Senate in 1969. Eleven years later, she would be appointed the first woman Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history by President Ronald Reagan and continue to inspire women in politics for years to come.